Habarana Elephant Safari

Our first destination after arriving in Colombo was Sigiriya. The drive there takes about 4-5 hours, so be prepared for a long journey. Upon arriving in the city (after enjoying a delicious lunch, of course), we headed straight to the Habarana Elephant Safari, a sanctuary for wild elephants. Elephants don't reside here year-round; they migrate across the island depending on the season, and right now is the perfect time to see them here. The best way to experience this is by hiring a driver with a safari jeep to get closer to these majestic creatures. The drivers are usually very knowledgeable about the local wildlife and often point out various animals. I was amazed at how they could spot animals hidden among the branches so effortlessly, while I had to spend several minutes searching for them in the bushes. They know a lot about the fauna and flora, but it's important to understand English to fully grasp their explanations. We were lucky enough to see crocodiles, five types of eagles, an owl, wild peacocks, numerous colorful small birds, majestic storks and cranes, pelicans, coyotes, monkeys, and even wild buffalo bathing in a lake. But the elephants left the biggest impression. The main herd consists of female elephants, and a matriarchal system prevails among them. Solitary elephants are usually males who live nearby but often don't stay with the females. In the wild, elephants cover 15-22 kilometers during their 20 hours of wakefulness to feed on green grass. They have an incredibly keen sense of smell and can detect the scent of pineapples from 10 kilometers away. We were fortunate to see a newborn elephant in its natural habitat. It stayed close to its mother, almost like her shadow, making it difficult to spot. We spent about half an hour near the main herd, and during this time, the baby elephant courageously stepped out from under its mother's legs on its wobbly legs. It occasionally stumbled and leaned against its mother's legs, which was an incredibly heartwarming sight. The safari lasts approximately 3-3.5 hours, and I initially thought it would feel too long. However, the route kept changing throughout the journey, and the time flew by without me noticing. Although, my arms were quite sore from holding tightly onto the roof of the jeep.